Digitization of communication between public administration and citizens seems to be a global trend in societies’ developments. The effects of such e-government initiatives depend, however on each countries particular policy and design decisions. The aim of this paper is to compare the enactment of particular policies in supposedly similar contexts. The comparative case constitutes digital communication between public sector and citizens in the Scandinavian countries. From a grounded approach, we have described the policy, design and effects elements of the three case settings. Our study indicates that apparently similar solutions in comparable contexts may be enacted in rather different ways and have quite different effects. We find that the three countries operate on a scale of coercion from mandatory (Denmark), over nudging (Norway) to voluntary (Sweden). Keywords: e-government, digital communication, policy, design, effect

Jansen, Arild J. & Ølnes, Svein (2014). The Muddy Waters of Public e-Services - The Use and Misuse of the Concept and How to Get Out of the Maze. Systems, Signs & Actions.
ISSN 1652-8719.
8(1), s 76- 94

In line with a number of other countries, Norway has decided to base their ICT solutions in the public sector on a common ICT architecture. This article discusses some challenges related to this work. The theoretical basis for the discussions is our understanding of information infra-structures, which we claim offers a fruitful perspective to the building of ICT architectures. Of particular relevance is its installed base: the history of technical and non-technical components that determines its further development. We argue that an ICT architecture for the public sector should be seen as an important element of a government information infrastructure. However, it has to be adapted to other principles and fulfil a wider range of needs than traditional types of infrastructures, including the specific political, regulatory and organizational context that it tar-gets Keywords: ICT architecture, information infrastructure, installed base, IT governance

This paper describes a project redesigning psychiatric services for children and adolescents through introducing a new decentralized model into the ordinary structures of health care services in Finnmark, and by using mobile phone technology. We apply a perspective in the analysis of the innovation process that created the ICT-solution that supports this treatment model. The salient challenges in our case were related to the contradictions between the existing, dominant structures and the emergent structures in the different layer in the design structures. We argue that as a result of this development process, the new model emerged with a larger potential for path creation than it would have had if it been linked to the existing structures. The aim of this paper is thus to contribute to the understanding of how user-driven innovation can break with existing power structures through focusing on different layers in the change processes.

This paper describes a project redesigning psychiatric services for children and adolescents through introducing a new decentralized model into the ordinary structures of health care services in Finnmark, and by using mobile phone technology. We apply a perspective in the analysis of the innovation process that created the ICT-solution that supports this treatment model. The salient challenges in our case were related to the contradictions between the existing, dominant structures and the emergent structures in the different layer in the design structures. We argue that as a result of this development process, the new model emerged with a larger potential for path creation than it would have had if it been linked to the existing structures. The aim of this paper is thus to contribute to the understanding of how user-driven innovation can break with existing power structures through focusing on different layers in the change processes.

Abstract. This study examines the reorganising of the administration of admission to higher education in Norway, which also included the development of a national wide ICT-based case handling sys-tem. This reform process was originated by the need to provide politicians with information for control and regulation purposes, which resulted in a centralised management information sys-tem. However, it has evolved into a coordinated, but partly distributed decision system that processes most of the applications to higher education in Norway. Our analysis aims at identifying the driving forces and mechanisms that have motivated this long-term and complex development process. We ask to what extent we may claim that man-agement interests have been the key factor in these reform processes? Or, is it rather advances in new information and communication technologies that have driven the development? Our conclusions are that neither of these hypotheses can fully explain these processes. There is no doubt that political and central management priorities have been decisive in this reform. At the same time, we cannot neglect the dynamics related to the visions that technological devel-opments create. Such visions, combined with an enthusiastic development team and supportive managers in the various local institutions have created an environment for innovative technical and administrative solutions.

This paper engages in a study of the conditions for convergence between information infrastructures. Inspired by the visions of convergence as on of the essential building blocks to achieve the goals of the Information Society and eEurope as well as the observation that no model has been proposed to address how and why convergence develops, we aim at providing a theoretical framework for studying such phenomena. To analyze the interrelatedness of the parallel evolution of information infrastructures, we introduce a concept of co-evolution and apply it to a study of the ongoing development of the two wireless communication platforms Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) in Norway. We emphasize the importance of an adequate understanding of the infrastructures involved, including the installed bases and their intra- and inter-linkages, to anticipate possible trajectories of co-evolution. Focusing on the network dimension of the communication platforms, we show how the various technologies, politics, interests and user preferences linked to the installed bases of each of the platforms may strongly influence the direction and speed of their co-evolution.

Although many governments are developing digital Government Information Infrastructures (eGovII), it seems to be little understanding of eGovII governance approaches and strategies other than those applied for traditional information systems. In a Norwegian context, there is being put much effort into designing a common ICT architecture, including a number of common components and services. This paper discusses in what ways such national ICT architectures may stimulate innovations in service provision. Three cases, which are core components of the ICT architecture are analysed to see if and how they may support innovations. More general, the paper aims at explore what type of governance approaches for eGovII may be most appropriate for supporting innovations?

Abstract. The development of Internet and small scale computing created the belief that ICTs would help the development of rural areas. In retrospect, these visions turned out to be too optimistic. Today, we experience rather dramatic centralisation trends. This is not because of ICTs alone, but we have seen that ICTs often support centralizing forces, rather than help local development. However, the academic discourse on these issues suffers from the lack of clarity and precise understanding of the ICT artefact. We have therefor developed an analytical framework by conceptualizing ICTs along three dimensions; how it is viewed, its use and how it impacts development. Our main message is that ICTs have to be used locally to foster horizontal collaboration, innovation and knowledge creation activities.

The development of the Internet and small scale computing created the belief that ICT would help the de-velopment of rural areas. A number of projects were initiated to stimulate the creation new work places and economic growth locally. In retrospect, these visions turned out to be too optimistic. Today, we experience a rather dramatic centralisation trend. This is not because of ICT alone, but we have seen that ICT diffusion and usage often support centralizing forces, rather than help local development. However, the academic discourse on these issues suffers from the lack of clarity and precise understanding of the concepts that are being used. By conceptualizing the different dimensions of ICT and its usage, the paper aims at contributing to more in-formed discussion of these matters.

The aim of this paper is to examine the role of technology in the reorganizing of public agencies. The empirical basis is the automation of the admission to higher education in Norway. This long development process has included many steps of technical developments, combined with changes in legislation and radical administrative reforms. Our analysis aims at identifying the factors that have driven these complex development processes. We ask to what ex-tent we may claim that advances in new ICTs have been a decisive factor in these reform processes? Or, has the development by and large been impelled in-stead by management interests? Our findings indicate that neither of these hypotheses can fully explain these processes. It is indisputable that political and central management priorities have been crucially important in this reform. At the same time, we cannot neglect the dynamics related to the visions that technological developments have created.

This paper describes a project redesigning psychiatric services for children and adolescents, introducing a new decentralized model into the ordinary structures of health care services in Finnmark, the northernmost county of Norway, using mobile phone technology. We apply a design perspective which can help us to focus on the notion of microstructure of design that includes task, design, and artifact structure as three layers of design. The salient challenges in our case were related to the contradictions between the existing, dominant structures and the emergent structures in the different layers. We argue that as a result of this innovation process, the new model emerged with a larger potential for path creation than it would have had if it been linked to the existing structures. The aim of this paper is thus to contribute to the understanding of how user-driven innovation can break with existing power structures through focusing on different layers in the change processes.

This study examines the management challenges in developing inter-organisational systems. Digital government is novel because it offers some fundamentally new possibilities for how government does business. Digital government requires cross-agency cooperation because of functional needs for scale, consistency, and integration. In this study, we examine the rather successful Norwegian Altinn web portal, which is a basis for collaboration on public reporting forms in the Norwegian public sector. Based on different theoretical models, we try to explain the decision making processes during the development process of Altinn.

The aim of this paper is to take part in the discussions on how the Scandinavian IS research tradition in information system research may contribute to eGovernment developments and implementations. Although this tradition does not represent a coherent set of principles and methods for system development, they share some common ideas and goals related to user involvement, participatory design and democracy at the work place. Even if some of the most basic ideas are inherent in our understanding of the IS field to day, many of the lessons from the past may have been forgotten. It is argued that advanced development and use of ICT can support the ideals and goals of the Scandinavian approaches to IS; we should not least have a greater focus on studying the consequences of various approaches to system design, implementation and use.

Jansen, Arild J. (2006). What role has Scandinavian IS tradition in the imple-mentation of information systems in the public sector?.

How can the Scandinavian IS research tradition in information system research contribute to eGovernment developments and implementations? Although this tradition does not represent a coherent set of principles and methods for system development, they share some common ideas and goals related to user involvement, participatory design and democracy at the work place. We will argue that advanced development and use of ICT can support the ideals and goals of the Scandinavian approaches to IS; we should not least have a greater focus on studying the consequences of various approaches to system design, implementation and use.

Research for eDemocracy is evolving fast in several disciplines. After a short discussion on the definition of this non-scholar term, and on democracy models, we provide some examples of eDemocracy research in Norway, demonstrating its spread across themes, traditions and institutions. This should be regarded as a start of a deeper discussion on policy, practices and future of research relating to eDemocracy in Norway.

This paper reports from a study of how Norwegian local municipalities are using the Inter-net for political communication. A research model including 4 independent variables (commu-nication needs, crisis of legitimacy, system capacity and management) and one dependent vari-able (political communication) has been developed in order to explain variation. The empirical part is based on a quantitative survey of the web sites for all municipalities in Norway and supplemented by data regarding their economy and organisational capacities. The findings show that the municipal web-sites are mostly used for information provision, primarily support-ing enlightened understanding, while interaction, supporting effective participation is less fre-quently available.

This paper discusses the results from the evaluations of public web sites in Norway in view of benchmarking as a method to ensure public agencies� commitment to standards. The project started in 2001 when a set of 21 indicators were developed and used in an evalua-tion of about 550 public web sites. This process was repeated in 2003 with a renewed set of indicators (25) including an evaluation of more than 600 public web sites. We found a signifi-cant improvement from 2001 to 2003 and we noticed that the evaluation spurred a competi-tion among the various public agencies. The paper concludes however, that the indicator set should include more criteria than those the existing evaluations are based on. We furthermore claim that these evaluations should be supplemented with other types of testing in order to get more comprehensive assessments of public web sites.